Bottle carrier



1943- c. M. DYKES 2,330,961

BOTTLE CARRIER Filed Jan. 15, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 5, 1c DYKESBOTTLE CARRIER Filed Jan. 15, 1943 2 sheets-Sheena I 4 I InventorPatented Oct. 5, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,330,961 BOTTLECARRIER Coy M. Dykes, Sparta, Ga.

Application January 13, 1943, Serial No. 472,233

2 Claims. (01. 294-87) The present invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in bottle carriers and has for its primary object toprovide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of thischaracter com-- prising a novel construction and arrangement whereby aplurality of beverage bottles, for example, may beconveniently liftedand transported with one hand.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a carrierof the aforementioned character comprising unique means for firmlygripping-and retaining the bottles.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a bottle carrier of thecharacter described which will be comparatively simple in construction,strong, durable, highl efficient and reliable in use, light in weightand which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention Will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein like characters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a, top plan view of a bottle carrier constructed inaccordance with the present in-- vention.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the dewhich has been illustratedcomprises a substantially rectangular plate I of suitable material,preferably cardboard, which plate may be of any desired dimensions. Theboard I has formed therein a plurality of circular openings 2 for thereception of the neck portions 3 of the bottles 4 to be transported.

Outer and intermediate clutches 5 and 6, respectively, are mounted onthe board I for engagement beneath the usual circumferential ribs I onthe necks of the bottles 4 for anchoring said bottles in the openings 2.The .clutches 5 and 6 are also preferably of cardboard, or wire.

The clutch 6 is in the form of a resilient strip mounted transversely onthe board I and pivotally secured thereto at an intermediate point, asat 8. Arcuate recesses 9 are provided in the side edges of theintermediate clutch 5. The outer clutches 5 are substantially V-shapedand their bight portions are formed to provide substantially segmental,apertured ears I0 which the recesses 9 accommodate and which arepivotally secured, as at I I, to the board I. It will thus be seen thatthe clutches 5 and 6 are capable of limited swinging movement in ahorizontal plane on the board I. The end portions of the clutches 5 and6 pro ject over the openings 2 and have formed therein arcuate recessesI2 for the reception of the necks 3 of the bottles. A flexible strandI3, constituting a carrying handle, has its end portions an.- chored inthe board I at points between the legs of the substantially V-shapedclutches 5.

It is thought that the manner of using the device will be readilyapparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the bottles 4to be transported are arranged in rows and spaced to conform to theopenings 2. The board I is then slipped downwardly on the bottles, thenecks of said bottles projecting upwardly through the openings 2. Theclutches 5 and 6 engage the bottles and are fixed upwardly until theribs I on said bottles have passed said clutches. The board I is thenlifted through the medium of the loop or handle I3 and the clutches 5and 6 close automatically due to their resiliency and frictionally bindthe bottles in the openings 2 for suspending said bottles from the boardwhen said board is lifted. The arrangement of the clutches 5 and 6 andthe openings 2 is such that, when the board I is lifted, the lower endsof said bottles tend to swing inwardly toward a common center. Thepivotal mountings of the clutches 5 and 6 on the board I permit saidclutches to automatically adjust themselves to properly engage andretain the bottles in conjunction with the remote wall portions of theopenings 2. If desired, the walls of the openings 2and the recesses I2may be waterproofed with parafilne or other suitable material if thebottles to be handled are wet. Thus, the cardboard or other materialmaybe protected against saturation and softening as a result thereof.

It is believed that the many advantages of a bottle carrier consructedin accordance with the present invention will be readily understood andalthough a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated anddescribed, it is to be understood that changes in the details ofconstruction and in the combination and arrangement of parts mayberesorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed asnewis:

1. A bottle. carrier comprising a board having a plurality of openingstherein for the reception of bottles, substantially v-shaped, resilientclutches mounted on the board, the blght portions 01' said clutchesincluding apertured ears pivotally secured to the board, the free endportions of the clutches extending over the openings and having arcuaterecesses therein for the reception of the bottles, said clutches beingengageable with the bottles ior anchoring said bottles in the openings,and means for lifting the board.

2. A bottle carrier oI-the character described comprising an elongatedboard having a plurality of openings therein for the reception ofbottles, an elongated clutch member of resilient material mountedtransversely on the board and pivotally secured at an intermediate pointthereto, the

end portions of said clutch projecting over cer-' tain oi the openings,said clutch having arcuate recesses in its longitudinal edges, andsubstantlally II -shaped clutches of resilient material mounted on theboard, said V-shaped clutches comprising bight portions includingsubstantially segmental, apertured ears pivotally secured to the boardand rotatably engaged in the recesses, the end portions or thesubstantially v-shaped clutches extending over the remaining openings,the free ends of the first and the second-named clutches having arcuaterecesses therein for the reception or the bottles, said clutches beingengageable with the bottles for anchoring said bottles in the openings.

COY M. DYIQ'JS.

